bursting beer belly

Tardiness has brought me to the point of no return. My long-standing habit of coming late (dating back to high school days) has made me less of a competent person. I already knew that this unreliable habit would handicap me over time, and after taking some space to think about it, it struck me that I need to change for the better. I need to become a newly programmed individual by 2009; otherwise, my hopes for greener pastures and stability in life will be trapped in the rooms of regret and incompetence. I don't want to be terminated soon! (Help!)

It's been a while since my last blog entry. Just before the year ends, I want to greet everybody... Happy Holidays! (still not in the mood to write... darn!)

I just got back yesterday from a 3-day monitoring assignment in Davao del Norte. Although I've been to several places already, I can say that this assignment is among the most memorable ones. Why? Because I experienced a lot of firsts during this trip. First off, it was my second time in Davao, but the first time arriving at Davao International Airport. It was my first experience at an international airport outside of Manila. Another milestone for me was riding the infamous habal-habal from Limbaan, New Corella, Davao del Norte, all the way to Mambing, New Corella. For your information, a habal-habal is a motorcycle taxi found in the Visayas and Mindanao regions that travels over mountains and rough roads, often carrying more than two passengers. At first, I wasn’t that excited when I learned we’d be riding a habal-habal to the venue. Although I had heard stories about its comfort and safety, I thought my officemates were exaggerating. Well, I was wrong. The ride was both scary and...

My mind has been preoccupied with unnecessary thoughts lately—everything from this and that to here and there. I don’t actually know why or how, but I’m pretty sure something is wrong. Am I just being paranoid? Paranoid about what? And why? I really need to focus right now. I have so many things to accomplish at work, and I don’t want to be terminated anytime soon. So, how am I going to deal with this? Is anyone there? I need help!

then. you. me. three. bag. teen. baby. may. can. big. see. rude. ponder. meal. chill. true. chalk. tan. ray. pee. dog. sit. cat. milk. eight. zoo. where. title. oak. mane. day. cuckoo. scene. tame. rake. oath. done.

Lately, aside from my monitoring assignments and office paperwork, I have been exploring various universities in the US and Australia online. I don’t know how this started, but I feel a strong urge to pursue graduate studies abroad. It's not that I just realized this; even while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree, graduate studies had always interested me. However, I never truly thought I would pursue it. Why? Because I tend to lose focus most of the time and easily get tired of tasks that require a significant amount of time and effort. This time, I’m starting to plan for my future. I will make sure that I stay on track. The first step is to get into a Master’s program, preferably in Arts Administration, abroad. I don’t expect to achieve this right away, but I am preparing myself for it. I have already sent inquiries to 2-3 universities and am still looking for more opportunities. Most importantly, I will also need to save money to kickstart my plan.

I feel like I am a grown man now. In the three weeks that this site has been hibernating, so much has happened. Milestones keep coming, starting with my first-ever project monitoring. On August 28, I had my first project monitoring at RCBC Plaza in Makati to see "Harana." The Philippine Opera Company showcased the evolution of Philippine music with their operatic renditions of several classics, from indigenous to contemporary. It was a night full of creativity as they sang, danced, and narrated the history behind the richness of our country's music. Another milestone was when I rode an airplane for the first time on September 4. It was my first experience with such a mode of transportation, and it was also my first out-of-town monitoring— in Mindanao! I was bound for General Santos City, coinciding with the celebration of the Tuna Festival. I went to the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University to monitor the National Artists in Architecture and Allied Arts Touring Exhibit and ...

I was at work yesterday, sitting in front of the computer, when I heard the sound of a horn blowing from my pocket. No, I don’t keep a car in my pants; it was my mobile phone ringing. The caller wasn’t listed in my contacts, but I still answered. To my surprise, it was the HR department from Star Cinema on the line. You might be wondering why, but no, I wasn’t being offered an acting job—how I wish! It was regarding my application for a production position. I mentioned it briefly in my previous posts but never got the chance to share the details. It’s been more than a month since I last contacted them. Although they told us to wait for a callback after taking the profile exam, I called them three weeks later when I hadn’t received even a text message about the status of my application. They informed me that I was in the top eight among the applicants but hadn’t made it into the top four to be screened first for a panel interview. So, I had to wait and hope that none of the top four met...

I just realized, while reading my posts and trying to think of something to write, that accepting the position at NCCA has truly been life-changing. Since that day, I've noticed that I've been so preoccupied that updating my blog has become challenging. This brings me back to the days when I was eager to land a job (it feels like ages ago) and would update my blog almost every day. My brain seems to function more easily when I have nothing to do; my mind glides from one issue to another, giving me countless things to write about. But now, as a professional, I have tasks to accomplish. I may not be updating my blog as frequently as I used to, but at least I know that my life is gradually improving.

Can't think of anything to write about today...

August has just hit the calendars, and by the end of this month comes the "-BER" months, which for Filipinos mean the beginning of the Christmas season. For me, August signifies fresh opportunities. Earlier, I filed my irrevocable resignation at TELUS. I've decided to accept the job at NCCA. I'm not yet sure if I've made the right choice, but one thing I know for certain is that I never thought it would be hard to leave TELUS. I never imagined that in just three weeks, I would establish myself in a company filled with newfound friends. There are many things I will surely miss about TELUS: my co-trainees and trainers, pulling up accounts, learning from modules, and the call simulations. Despite its brevity, I learned a lot from this experience. Though this move is crucial, I have to make it because this is life, and I need to move on. I've chosen the path that I believe will lead me on a journey of ups and downs. Tomorrow, I guess, is just the beginning. Fresh ...

I'd have to deal with crossroads for the third time in my life (as far as I can vividly remember). The first was when I had to transfer schools in college, but that wasn't a big deal (or at least I think so). The second was when I had to choose between NCCA and Lopez Museum as my practicum organization. I've been training with Telus for a little over two weeks, and just this afternoon, I received a call from NCCA telling me that I got the position of Culture and Arts Officer. At first, it was music to my ears. Who wouldn't feel that way? I had just received my second failing grade in call simulation, and the moment I heard the words "Culture and Arts Officer" associated with myself, my frustration faded away, giving way to euphoria. I've been wanting the CAO position at NCCA because I believe it would be one of the best (if not the best) entry-level jobs for Philippine Arts graduates like me to apply everything I learned back in college. I was in that stat...

Dispatcher: Asan ung partner mo? Student: Nasa duty po... Dispatcher: Ganun ba? Bakit, anong year niyo na ba? Student: 4th year na po... Dispatcher: Ayun naman pala e, makakaraos na rin! Student: Oo nga po e. That's what you think! I just wanted to say it out loud when I overheard a short conversation between a dispatcher and a nursing student while we were waiting for our FX taxi to fill up at the Market Market FX Terminal earlier. I wasn't sour-graping, but it was nostalgic when I heard the words from the dispatcher's mouth. I remembered my senior year, just a few months ago. I was very excited to finish my degree because I believed that once I completed it, life wouldn't be so hard for me anymore. I thought I'd easily land a job that would earn me a fortune, and then I'd buy all the things I'd wanted as I grew with the company. But, as I've mentioned in my previous posts, it turned out to be utterly different. I realized that the "real world begi...

I write. It’s nothing special; nonetheless, I write. I’ve been training at Telus for over a week now, and I’m getting along with my co-trainees and trainers pretty well, at least from my perspective. Aside from the camaraderie we share, we sometimes make fools of ourselves to enjoy the process while absorbing all the information we need to become competent inbound/sales customer interaction associates. We are currently in the client specifics stage, and we’re really beginning to feel the pressure. Navigating through the application while addressing the needs of the customer seemed easy at first. But when I tried it myself, I quickly became rattled and confused. At the end of the day, I managed to pull it off and received a passing grade. Confidence and proper judgment are just a few key points to remember as an associate in this industry. Our QA emphasized that we (the CIAs) need to control the transaction rather than let the customers overpower us. Of course, this should still be done...

Last Tuesday, I received a job offer from Telus International as a Customer Interaction Associate (CIA). Though my heart isn’t fully in this industry, I accepted the position because I had no choice. It’s been three months already, and I needed to find a job. I still have two pending applications with other companies related to my field, but I have to settle for what society offers rather than wait for something that could take years to materialize. I need to help my father financially and support our family as well. Moreover, I was getting tired of doing nothing every single day. I’ve started training, which will take more than a month before we actually hit the floor. At least, for now, I have something meaningful to do, and I’ve finally landed myself a job.

edamame - "immature soybeans" netroots - "grassroots activists who use the Internet as a medium" pescatarian - "a vegetarian whose diet includes fish" pretexts - "present themselves as someone else with a view to gaining access to information" prosecco - "an Italian sparkling wine" soju - "Korean vodka made from rice" subprime - "having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended especially to low-income borrowers" webinar - "an online seminar" wing nut - "one who advocates extreme measures or changes" ( AFP - Tuesday, July 8 )

In a span of over 400 years, the Philippines has undergone significant changes. From the beginning of the Spanish conquest to the dawn of the new millennium, Filipinos have faced the challenge of coping with the demands of their current "ruler." Through this, one can begin to define what Filipino culture is. So, what is Filipino culture? First, let's break down the concept into its simplest form by defining each word on its own. We'll start with the less complicated word—culture. This concept can be described as "people's way of living." It consists of the physical environment in which a group of individuals lives; the languages they share; the traditions they feel connected to; and their behaviors and relationships with one another. These aspects emerge as a result of the continuous interaction among these groups of people over time. Therefore, similar to art, culture can be considered an offspring of human nature. Furthermore, it is safe to say that cu...

I got the list from the world boxing council website HEAVYWEIGHT (over 200 lbs) CRUISERWEIGHT (200 lbs limit) LT. HEAVYWEIGHT (175 lbs limit) SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT (168 lbs limit) MIDDLEWEIGHT (160 lbs limit) SUPERWELTERWEIGHT (154 lbs limit) WELTERWEIGHT (147 lbs limit) SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT (140 lbs limit) LIGHTWEIGHT (135 lbs limit) SUPERFEATHERWEIGHT (130 lbs limit) FEATHERWEIGHT (126 lbs limit) SUPERBANTAMWEIGHT (122 lbs limit) BANTAMWEIGHT (118 lbs limit) SUPERFLYWEIGHT (115 lbs limit) FLYWEIGHT (112 lbs limit) LT. FLYWEIGHT (108 lbs limit) STRAWWEIGHT (105 lbs limit)

(...continuation of the previous entry) We (my friend and I) were about to go home, so we opted to head to Quiapo. She was going to visit a company in Ortigas first, so she took an FX en route to Megamall. Ten minutes passed, and I still couldn't find an FX bound for Pasig. Not being familiar with the area, I didn’t know if there was a terminal nearby, so I decided to take the jeepney since it wasn't too hot anyway. There were only two passengers in the back, both near the vehicle's threshold, when I got on, so I sat next to the man on the right side. I hadn’t ridden a jeep in that area since the fare increased, so I asked the driver how much it was to my destination. He looked at me in the mirror and said, "23 pesos." I didn’t have the exact fare, so I paid 25 pesos instead. He glanced at me again as I handed over the fare and received my 2-peso change. Before we turned right onto Recto, the only passenger on the left side near the threshold got off, vacating tha...

Yesterday, I experienced the filth of the real world once more. My friend and former classmate and I set aside the day to apply for a very interesting and highly appropriate job position at a government agency in Intramuros. We met up at a computer shop along Taft Avenue, near UP Manila, at noon. She had to take an exam for another company in Makati, and I had to get my Transcript of Records from the Office of the University Registrar at UP Manila. As with many similar days in my life, I ran late. I arrived at the registrar exactly 17 minutes before the office was about to close for lunch at noon. But I guess good luck was on my side this time around (remember my previous entry?). The office was not closed; in fact, it welcomed me to enter. I was just very happy that this time it wasn’t going to be another frustrating mishap. Or was it too early for me to conclude? Read on. Everything went quite well until I chanced upon—or should I say reunited with—this very unfriendly friend at the ...

Apart from the occasional rain that poured onto the streets of Manila, Filipinos from all walks of life were once again kept inside their houses to watch another fight featuring our so-called "modern-day hero," Manny Pacquiao, against the respectable opponent David Diaz, who hails from the West. I wasn't actually anticipating the outcome of the match, as David Diaz was somewhat of a stranger to me. All I knew was that he held the WBC Lightweight Division Title, and for that, I assumed he was good. Well, he proved me right—he was good, but not enough to defend his title against this hungry beast, Pacquiao. Still, I have to give my respect to Diaz; he put up a great fight. Despite his heavily cut right eye, he lasted until the 9th round against the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer today. That’s tough! As for Pacquiao, another well-earned win! He improves his record to 47 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 35 KOs. Not only that, but he now holds the WBC Lightweight Divisio...

I just read an article in a broadsheet earlier this morning about a book on surviving in the real world. I found it interesting because it might help me as I enter the professional field very soon (hopefully...). The book is  No More Ramen , written by Nicholas Aretakis, an executive sales and marketing consultant. He writes about choosing a career, landing a job offer after an interview, and setting short- and long-term goals for one’s future. I visited his site online and found a template on how to plan and document goals. It might come in handy for everyone, I guess. Here it is: GET SOME GOALS The sooner you get thinking about your future, the sooner you can begin leading your life, instead of allowing your life to lead you. Here are some questions to help you discover what you want from life. As you work through the questions, be honest with yourself and don’t be afraid to think big! Age Wish List: List one or more big milestones you want to achi...

Last Monday, I was extremely excited to go back to school—not because of the sheer joy of studying, but because I was about to get my Transcript of Official Records, or simply TOR, from UP Manila's OUR (Office of the University Registrar). Why? Because I was going to be interviewed for a job position the next day in a film production in Quezon City. I woke up early in the morning, around 6 a.m., so that I could be there between 9 and 10 a.m. and be back home before noon. I got up, ate breakfast, took a bath, prepared myself, and began the long 1 hour and 45 minute ride from our house to UP Manila. It was a really hot and humid morning—a typical, exhausting day for me. But because of my goal (to get my TOR), I didn’t mind. I chose to ride the MRT and LRT to beat the heat, yet the wrath of the morning sun and the heat of summer still reverberated even inside the train. And so, the discomfort continued. I guess no one could evade the wrath of the summer season here in the Philippines....

Survivor: Australia Episode 1: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/bQi12JeisPg/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/JO5muqo-1ew/ Episode 2: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/zv8bZmnEbrk/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/5lxMiTSbRcI/ Episode 3: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/ga4PpuoQwBE/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/NGo1M76fdmA/ Episode 4: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/FX7sOuLmmDg/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/3A9Omxv7Cbw/ Episode 5: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/fGtZ_WyCMvY/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/BTq58fx2KMg/ Episode 6: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/3AwKh2Q2xzs/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/BMGlap8_D1I/ Episode 7: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/CipKRwBMTQs/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/CHIuKMhvS8w/ Episode 8: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/kBWRS9OQ-Qk/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/8dMKVOoyoE8/ Episode 9: Part a: www.tudou.com/programs/view/norJo6d-a_M/ Part b: www.tudou.com/programs/view/Mdy2nnIpbxo/...

How do I start with this? Last tuesday, I was about to submit my cv to a company in Quezon City when our phone suddenly rang. To my dismay, the call was for me. A woman from this catholic college in Pasig City informed me to report to her urgent(as in that moment) for they were actually considering my application for a teaching position, not as a college professor (which I actually applied for) but as a high school teacher for the arts. Well, since I have this interest in teaching, I considered their "offer". The school is just a few minutes away from us and it was also along my way to Quezon City, so I didn't hesitate to drop by. In the school, she told me that I needed to perform a teaching demo on thursday. So, I only had one whole day to prepare for it (lesson plan, visual aids and all the spiels --- kamusta naman?). It was really a huge challenge for me, considering I haven't done any lesson plans before and haven't taken any teaching units even. After the...

It's been two months, and I have yet to land a position in my chosen career. Is it my degree? My resume? Have I been barking up the wrong tree all this time? Or is it just plain bad luck? Up until now, I'm still somewhat confused about how to draw my professional path. I'm torn between following my passion for the arts and related fields and pursuing what society offers. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philippine Arts, which can lead me to several areas of profession since it encompasses basic concepts and theories in the arts and Philippine culture. Moreover, having taken the Arts Management program, I was introduced to basic management theories and principles that I could apply not just in the field of arts but also in other areas related to management. So, I have this vast field of options ahead of me, right? Or do I? I have been sending my resume to television networks, marketing and advertising companies, arts organizations, and other companies in need of managemen...

I got my diploma... then what's next?

“Learn how to die and you’ll learn how to live.” - Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Alcomb Saddened. Nothing has changed in how I feel since I first heard the most shocking and horrible news thus far. To some, it may not mean a thing, but for me and for so many whom he touched and walked with, it means not just a lot but a terrible loss. The passing of Isidro Gomez Hildawa—a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, an architect, a visual artist, a musician, a poet, a manager, and a teacher (yes, he truly seemed to be a modern-day Renaissance man)—leaves a significant impression in each of the endeavors he engaged in. Not only did it bring an immense setback for those he left behind, but it was also so unexpected for a man who had just come home from the hospital and was still recovering, only to pass away suddenly. I remember him as a teacher, a visual artist, and a poet. The most memorable lesson about drawing that he imparted to me was, “The ke...

Bakit kaya sa tuwing matatapos ang isang unos sa buhay ng isang tao agad namang dumarating ang panibago? Katatapos lang ng isa subalit masasabing pinakamahabang unos na dumaan sa buhay ko. Siguro masyadong overrated ang statement na 'to, pero sa aking palagay, tama lang na sabihin ko ito. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ng pagbubuhos ng pagod at pag-iisip para magsaliksik at maisulat ang thesis ng inyong lingkod, nakarinig ako ng liwanag nang sabihin ng tagapayo ko ang mga katagang "You're done Bryan, Congrats." Hindi agad tumatak ang mga katagang iyon sa aking isipan hanggang sa maipasa ko ang thesis ko na nakabookbind sa aking tagapayo. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa ko at natapos ko ang isang pagsasaliksik nang nasa tamang panahon. Ilang buwan din ang ginugol ko upang makamtam ko ang liwanag mula sa unos. Mahaba-haba din ang ilang buwan, kasabay nito ang iba pang pagsubok bilang pinuno ng isang organisasyon sa pamantasan, kaya naman labis ang aking ngiti ng saglit na iy...

I just want to greet myself a happy new year... It's better late than never... What a way to start a year...